Chicago Fire Ordinance Failure
Let’s rewind back a few years to 2003, when a fire killed six people trapped behind locked doors in a stairwell in the Cook County Administration Building located in the Loop. This fire prompted Chicago Tribune analysis of city records, of the 700 residential high-rises required to step up their fire safety measures as required by a 2004 ordinance, 369 still haven’t made the necessary improvements, or submitted approved plans. That’s more than half of high-rises still not up to code. The experienced personal injury team at Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. helps people who have suffered chemical, heat burns, or fire burns. They can also help you with personal injuries sustained from old residential buildings hazards; such as elevator doors not up to code that may crush your arm.
The buildings were supposed to be up to code by January 1st of this year, but the deadline was extended 3 more years since so many of the high-rises are behind. The ordinance works under a points system. Residential high-rises must have a score of at least 27 for fire safety, and 36 for means of egress and general safety. Different improvements merit a certain amount of points. For example, smoke detectors installed in apartments and elevators would count as 6 points. On the other hand, fire hazards negate points. These fire hazards could include dead end corridors and doors that ignite in less than an hour. Furthermore, buildings constructed before 1975 are not required to have sprinklers installed, but still must upgrade other safety measures.
Attention has recently been brought to this fire ordinance after a fire killed a resident of a North Lake Shore Drive high-rise on January 8th of this year. Resident Shantel McCoy died of smoke inhalation after she attempted to take an elevator to the 12th floor where she lived, unaware that there was a fire on that very floor. There were no alarms sounding to let her know of the impending danger. This same building had been cited for various hazards in the past. One resident, Kayla Gale, even filed a personal injury lawsuit 3 days before the fire after one of the building’s elevator doors crushed her arm.
Many high-rise building owners have complained that the safety modifications are too costly, in a time when many people are out of jobs. The estimated cost to bring a high-rise up to fire safety code can be as much as $300,000 for a 40 story building. In a city infamous for it’s’ fires, could there really be a price on fire safety? Bringing these buildings up to code can possibly save tons of money on personal injury lawsuits, and many lives. Also, who knows, with clever advertising, fire safe buildings may even attract new residents who may want to move in. If you or a loved one have been burned or injured as a result of a safety hazard in a high-rise, please contact accident injury attorneys Zneimer & Zneimer p.c. for a free consultation.
